Method of manufacturing phonographic disks



Oct. 26, 1943. A, B. s'r. HILAIRE METHOD OF MANACTURING PHONOGRAPHICDISKS 6 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR efl 5K. f/Z'azbe y ATTORNEYS y FiledJune 29, 1940 Oct. 26, 1943. A. B. sf. 'Hu- AIRE 2,332,945

METHODOF MANUFACTURING PHONOGRAPHIKC DISKS Filed June 29, 1940 6Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Oct. 26, 1943.

A. B. ST. HILAIRE METHOD OF MANUFACTURING PHONOGRAPHIC DISKS l FiledJune 29. 1940 e sheets-'sheer s TF v INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Oct. 26, 1943.AyB. sT. HlLAlRE l 2,332,945

l METHOD OF MANUFACTURING PHONOGRAPHIC DISKS Filed June 29. 1940 6Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Oct.l 26,

1 943. A B. sT. HILAIRE METHOD OF MANUFACTURING PHONOGRAPHIC DISKS 6Sheets-Sheet 5 'Filed June 29, 1940 l I l z S ATTORNEYS 26, A B STHILAIRE l METHOD OF MANUFACTURINGPHONOGRAPHIC DISKS Filed June 29. 19406 Sheets-Sheet 6 pair sound reproduction qualities.

Patented oci. ze, 1943 METHOD oF MANUFACTURING PHoNocanarino DIsKsAlbert B. St. Hilaire, Paris,'France; vested in the Alien PropertyCustodian Application June 29, 1940, Serial No. 343,177

claims. (ci. 117-120) This invention relates to the manufacture ofphonographic disks, andk has for its object certain improvements inthemethod of manufaci turing coated phonographic disks; which maythereafter be used for recording and reproducing sound in a conventionalmanner.

It has been the: practice heretofore to make direct recordingphonographic disks by coating blanks, such as aluminum, zinc, papercardboard, and the like, in the following ways: the disks, containingholes in their centers, are mounted on rod with spacers between adjacentblanks. While the rod is horizontally disposed,

the lower half of the disks is submerged in a' body of coatingcomposition. The rod is revolved, thereby coating the disks on bothsides. The are 'the-n Withdrawn from the body of coating composition,and the rotation is continued until the coating on the discs hardens toa sufficient extent; afterwhich they are dried. According to anothermethod, tin; clank discs are sprayed with the coating composition. Inaccordance with a third method, the coating composition is dropped ontothe disks, near their centers, while they are rotated, This rotationtends to spread the coating composition laterally across the face of thedisks. These three customary methods oi coating discs leave much to bedesired, because not one of the methods as sures an even and smoothcoating of uniform thickness; with the result that diiiiculties areencountered not only in the recordation of sound, but in itsreproduction.

This, an uneven thickness of coating on the disks causes the cuttingmeans employed in the recordation of sound to jump up and down whenpassing over uneven ridges or swirl marks, which in turn causes deep andshallow grooves that im- An uneven thickness of coating also results inuneven drying, and thus produces a. non-homogeneous surface. Disks withan uneven coating usually have an undesirable scratch noise. From theviewpoint of economy, an uneven coating is objectionable becausethethinnest portion of the coating must be suii'iciently thick to recordin, and the excess coating is therefore Wasted. Uneven coatings alsoobscure defects in the disks, making inspection for seriousimperfections difficult or well-nigh impossible.

As a result of -my investigations, I have dis-- 'covered improvements inthe method of manufacturing phonographic disks that largely overcome thediculties enumerated. In accordance with the practice of the invention,each blank disk may be given a smooth, even coating of substantiallyuniform thickness. such as has notV heretofore been obtained on materialof the thickness` required for use in recording. This is accomplished ina manner radically different from the methods heretofore employed.

In the practice of the present invention, a series of blank discs aresuccessively placed on a practically imperforate band, the band beingWider than the disks so as to providev a substantial amount of uncoveredband immediately around each disc resting thereon. The band and disksare passed horizontally at a uniform and steady rate of speed under afeeding hopper containing a suitable coating composition, such aslacquer, the hopper extending laterally across the disks and atleastover a portion of the un covered band beyond both sides of eachdisk.

The disks are maintained at a predetermined and uniform distance fromthe bottom of the hopper. Coating lacquer is steadily discharged fromthe hopper as the discs pass thereunder. The viscosity and the `amountof coating lacquer discharged from the hopper are such as to completelyfill the gap between the'disks and the bottom of the hopper withoutflowing out of the side of the hopper counter to the direction of travelof the disks, so that a coating of substantially the thickness of thegap is evenly spread across the top surface of each disk as it leavesthe hopper; While the portion of the band immediately surrounding eachdisk is coated to a thickness substantially equal tothe combinedthickness of the blank disc and its coating.

The coated disks embedded on the band are permitted to travel` asufiicient distance to clear the hopper, after which they are separatedfrom the coated portion of the band at its discharge end, and are thensuitably dried.

In addition to the method outlined, the invention also contemplates atreatment of the blank discs with a wetting agent miscible with the lac-`quer while in transit on the band to condition i end and the forwardportion of each coated disk is projected in a horizontal direction sothat the .coating on that part of the band is automatically andprogressively sheared or severed from the coating around theforwardpenmeter portion of the disk. The projection portion-of thecoated disk is gripped and the disk propelled forward at a speedsomewhat'greater than that 4o1" the traveling band, to separate the twocoating's along the perimeter of the rear portion ofthe coated disk.

A substantially constant supply of coatinglacquer is maintained in thefeed hopper which is suilicient in amount to provide enough hydraulicpressure to straighten out slight bends in the disks as they travel onthe band under the hopper. This insures an leven coating ofsubstantially uniform thickness across the top of the disks as theyemerge from under the hopper and then tend to assume their origina]slightly bent condition.

These and other features of the invention will be better understood byreferring to the attached drawings, taken in conjunction with thefollowing description, in which:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic front View of an apparatus illustrative of apractice of the invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional elevation of the coating machine shownln Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional detail on the line 3-3 of i Azaaizaad;

pulley 45 attached to a shaft 46 which drives the band take-up roll 24.Provision is made for taking care of the slippage that occurs in theoperation of belt 44 around pulley 45, because of the varying diameterof the take-up roll 24 as the band I5 unwinds from the fresh roll ofpaper I4. This consists of a lever 41 pivoted at 48 to a cross member 49on the frame I3. One end of the lever is provided with a roller 50adapted to place the lower portion of the belt 44 under tension as aweight 5I attached to the other end of the lever forcesY that end of thelever downwardly.

In order to stop the travel of the paper band I5 in case of emergency,or for any other reason, the apparatus shown 'is provided with abifurcated lever 52, extending under shaft 55 on which the upper roller23 is mounted, and pivoted atpoint 53 to a plate 54 attached to thecross member 49. 'Ihe upper end of the lever rests on a crank arm 56pivoted at point 51 to'a top cross-frame member 58. A handle 59 isattached to the crank arm. By meving the crank Fig. 9 is anotherenlarged sectional elevation of the disk separating means of Fig. 2,showing a coated disk after it has been pulled forward;

Fig. 10 is a plan view of Fig. 9;

Fig. 1l is -an enlarged end elevation in part on the line II-II of Fig..10;

Fig. 12 is a sectional detail at the bottom of theieed hopper, showinghow objectionable air may be entrapped While a disk is being coated;

Fig. 13 is a sectional detail similar to Fig. 12, but showing howcoating material may ow forward of lthe .feed hopper and impair thecoating on a disk; and

Fig. 1,4 is a sectional detail similar to Figs. 12

Y and 13, but showing the proper manner of spreading the coatingmaterial from the feed hopper onto the disks.

band I5 extends upwardly from the roll, arounda pair of round tensionbars I6 and I1, thence horizontally across the top of a table I8 to theother end of the frame, around-apair of appropriately supported rollersI9 and 20; and then laterally lunder the table and across a scraperblade 2l, between a pair of driving rollers" 22 '23 to a take-up roll24.

Driving rollers 22 andy 23 are appropriately geared to form-a positivedrive through roller fitted with'a driving belt 44 connecting with aapproximately 180, th'e lower .portion of the lever is lifted, and -thisin turn raises the driving roll 23 against a compression spring 60,thereby disengaging driving rolls 23 and 22. When this'occurs, movementof the paper band I5 ceases, because the slippage of belt 44 is so greatas not to rotate the take-up roll 24.

' Tension bar I6 is permanently affixed at both ends to the frame,whereas tension bar I1 is fixed at one end and is adjustable withrespect to the table I8 at the other endby means of an adjusting screw6I. Roller I9 is permanently axed to the frame at the other end of thetable I8, whereas roller 20 is self-centering so that the paper band iscentered as it leaves'the roller I9 and is taken up on th'e roll 24. Forthis purpose roller 20 is mounted in a U-shaped frame 62, at the centerof' which an upright stud 63 is attached. The stud is in turn mounted ina bearing 64 suitably attached to the cross member 65 of the frame.

The feeding means, see Figs. 2 and 4, for th'e coating liquid comprisesa container 66 appro. priately supported on a pair of uprights 61suitably attached to the cross members 49 and 58 of the frame. Thecontainer is provided with lugs 68 adapted to fit onto the top ofbrackets 69 attached tothe uprights. The discharge end of the containeris provided with a spout 10 projecting through an opening 1I in a feedhopper 12. The rear of the hopper is provided with a cross plate 13having an upper and a lower pair of lugs 14 and l15 at its sides throughwhich a `pair of rods 16 extend, the lower ends of the rods beingmounted in and supported by the frame members 58.' .Each rod 16 isprovided with a compression spring 11 mounted between the table I8 andthe lower lugs 15. The upper ends. of the rods are provided withmicrometric screws 18, so that the bottom of the hopper may beaccurately spaced above the table I8.

Before mounting the container over the feed hopper, the opening fof thespout 10 is covered with a closure 19 suitably attached to a collar witha set screw 8l by means of a pair of rods 82 having extension portions`83 beyond the collar, the upper end of each being provided with a headto retain'a compression spring 84 between it` and the collar. After thespout 18 is pushed into the top of the feed hopper, the set screw 8I isloosened, and the collar 80 drops onto the top 85 of the feed hopperthereby closper; the outer end of the rod being secured to a lateral arm90 pivoted at 9| to a bracket 92 secured to the top of the hopper.An-air valve 93 is attached'to the bracket, and thezvalve has a stem 94attached to the lateral arm. The valve is provided with a port 95 forthe entrance of air, and the lower end of the valve is connected with atube 96, the other end of which fits into the top of .the container 66.As the lacquer leaves the container 66 and passes into the feed hopper,a vacuum is set up in the upper portion of the container. In order toinsure a free flow of lacquer from the container, it is important thatthis vacuum be broken at intervals. The instant construction permits theentrance of air into the top of the container when the lacquer islowered to a certain level 81 within the feed hopper. When the float 88reaches that level, the stem 94 opens port 95 and outside air ispromptly drawn through tube 96 into the top of the container. The flowof lacquer to the feed hopper is resumed as the float rises and closesthe port of the valve against further entrance of air. This action isintermittent until the container 66 is emptied.v

Referring to Figs. 12, 13 and 14, the construction of the bottom of thefeed hopper is shown in greater detail. 'Ihe discharge' opening isrectangular in cross section. In addition to vertical end walls thehopper has a front wall 91 substantially vertical to the table I8. Therear Wall 98 slopes so as to converge toward the bottom of the hopper;and its lower edge portion is shaped |03, and centrally thereof.

to forr'n a doctor blade 99 as shown. For this purpose, the edge slopesupwardly into the interior of the hopper, in such a manner as to form anacute angle with the table I8.

Referring particularly to Figs. 2,16 and 9, the apparatus shown includesa cleaning and wiping mechanism comprising a roller |00 and one or morestationary wiping members |0| suitably tted in a pair of movable notchedbrackets I 02 attached to opposite sides of the table I8, immediately infront of the feed hopper. As shown more particularly in Fig. 6, thebrackets |02 are supported by a pair of lateral arms |02' pivoted at|02". In order to raise the cleaners and wipers above the moving band,when desired or necessary, the apparatus shown comprises a shaft |00'appropriately supported to the frame I3. The shaft is provided with apair of eccentric cams |00",vand a lever |00"'. -A pair of plungers |0I'is positioned directly above the cams, and extend vertically through apair of sleeves IOI attached to the frame. By turning the lever, thebrackets 02, and therefore the cleaners and wipers, may be raised aboveand lowered to the band. The roller and the wiping members areadvantageously provided with an absorbent medium, such as linen,articial silk and the like, which do not tend to give olf lint while inuse.

Still referring to Figs. 2, 6 and 9, the apparatus shown includes acoated disk removing -for (see Fig. 2).

k||I3 positioned at the discharge end of and at substantially the samelevel as the table I8, and centrally thereof. The cams are provided witha shaft |04, the ends of which are adapted to vfit into apair ofsupports |05 having a series of spaced notches |06, as shown, each ofwhich is intended for a given sized cam, the size of the cam in turndepending on the size of disk to be coated. The supportsv are in turnattached to a cross bar |01 extending across the rear of the machine,the ends of which are provided with a pair of vertical' arms |08suitably pivoted at |09 to the table. The vertical arms carry a pair ofbrackets ||0 protruding laterally across the rear vertical members IIIof the frame. The brackets are in turn provided with a set screw ||2which is adapted to be `screwed through the bracket against the frame soas to swing the supports |05 upwardly or downwardly to act as a levelingdevice for cams |03. y

One end of the shaft |04 is provided with a pulley II5 equipped with anendless belt H8 extending around a roller 20, and having a def pendingloop portion fitted with a freely suspended pulley H1 to which a weight||8 is attached. The object of this weight is to form a friction driveand permits the registering or locating of a notch H9 in each cam |03;which, as will be shown below, is useful to the operator as a visualindicator, particularly when used in conjunction with a high spot |20 atthe opposite side of notch II9 in each of the cams. The perimeterportion of the main portion of each cam travels at the same speed as theband, but the high spots |20 travel about 10% faster.

A roller I2I, at substantially the same level as table I8, extendssomewhat beyond the cams This `roller is mounted on a shaft |22 to oneend of which is attached a pulley |23 provided with an endless belt |24fitting around roller I9. The belt is provided with a loop at the lowerportion of which is a freely suspended pulley |25 carrying a weight |26.The function of the Weight is to make the belt serve as a frictiondrive. The shaft |22 is mounted at or near its center on a verticallydisposed support |21 having a laterally extending arm which isadjustably attached to a plate |28 by means of a pair of set screws |29extending through a slot I3| in the lateral arm. 'Ihe plate I 28 in turnrests on a cross member |32, the ends of which are provided with a pairof arms |33 pivoted at |34 to the frame members III. The ends of thecross member are provided with a pair of set screws |35 bearing againsta pair of brackets |36 protruding from the frame members III. Thisconstruction permits adjustment of the roller |2| toward or away fromthe table I8, as well as upwardly or downwardly-to facilitate theremoval of Acoated disks of various sizes from the band I5. Theperimeter portion of the roller travels about 5% faster than the band.

In order to moisten the roller |00 it is advantageous to provide aspecial mechanism there- To this end the apparatus shown comprises acontainer |31 appropriately supported above the rollerto uprights 61 bymeans of a bracket |38. A iiexible tube |39 extends from the containerto a position slightly above the roller, the lower end of the tube beingprovided with a valve |40. The tube may be moved crosswise of the rollerto moisten it as desired.

The lscraper blade 2| is mounted in a funnel mechanism comprising a pairof eccentric cams |4I. The funnel is in turn appropriately supported onthe upright B1 by means of a cross bar |42.

under the funnel to catch coating lacquer |85 scraped from the paperband`| byl means of scraper blade 2|.

Movement of the band |5 may be promptly terminated 'by disengaging thegears of driving rollers 22and 23, by `lifting lever 52; but it is Asuitable container |43 is placedl rights 61 by a pair of brackets |16. Abearing |11 is secured to the top of the cross bar, centrally thereof;and. is'tted with a crank |13, to one end of which an eccentric cam |19is attached and suspended over a bracket |80 at-v tached to the frontwall of the feed hopper. The feed hopper may be dropped onto the bandand table by turning the crank and hence the raised portions of the camonto the bracket. This movement forces the lugs on the feed hopperdownwardly on the compression springs 11. 'Io raise the hopper, thecrank is again turned., compression on the springs is reduced, and theyn push upwardly on the lugs.

The above described apparatus may be employed as follows in the practiceof the invention:

After the driving rollers 22 and'23 have been set into operation topropel the band l5 across the frame a plurality of blank disks |8|,|821, |83, etc., are carefully and successively placed on the travelingband by the operator; In practice (see Figs. 6 and 7 )these disksarepreferably brought in point-to-point contact as they are laid on theband. The first disk moves under and is gripped by roller |00, where thetop surface of the disk is subjected to .the cleaning action of thesolution with which the roller is moistened. In a presently preferredpractice of the invention the roller is kept moist with alcolacquer ismaintained in the hopper to provide enough hydraulic pressure to flattenor straighten out small bends frequently found in the disks, so thatthey may receive an even coating of substantially uniform thickness.

By means oi micrometric screws 18, the gap,

between the bottom of the feed hopper and the paper band is carefullycalibrated to assure the desired thickness of coating on the disks. Toassist in' the formation of this coating of predetermined thickness, itis important that the.

lacquer be of homogeneous composition and that it have a suitableviscosity. The upper limit of y viscosity must be such as to permit aslow flow of the lacquer to iron or smooth out small irregularitiesnecessarily inherent in the process; while the lower limit of viscositymust be such as not to permit any appreciable flow of the lacquer out ofthe sides of the hopper or under the disks by capillary attraction, orcounter to the direction of travel of the disk. Ifsome of the lacquershould ow underneath the disk, it would unfit that side of the disk forcoating.

As the disk passes under the hopper a sumcient amount of the lacquer isspread thereon to provide a coating |86 having a thickness substantiallythe depth of the gap between the top of the blank disk and the bottom ofthe hopper or doctor blade 99. The outside of the rear wall 9S of thehopper is maintained free of lacquer as the coated disk emerges fromunder the hopper, so as not to impair the evenness of coating due tocreeping of lacquer up the wall. It is customary for the operator, ifnecessary, to scrape that part of the wall clear of lacquer before adisk is passed under the hopper.

Figs. 12 and 13 illustrate wrong methods and Fig. 14 illustrates' aproper method of coating the disks.v Thus, in Fig. 12, the coatinglacquer 85 is shown dropping onto a disk from the feed hopper in such amanner as to leave a wedge-like gap |90 which entraps air that becomesoccluded in the coating as'air bubbles |91. Some of these bubbles riseto the surface and form pimples or berries |92 on the surface of thecoated disk,

v which of course imp'air the disk for sound recordahol, one of thesolvents employed in the making of the coating lacquer. The alcohol iskept in container |31 and is fed onto the roller asneeded. The alcoholfunctions to clean the top surface of the disk, particularly withrespect to grease and similar impurities; and the alcohol likewisefunctions as a wetting agent for the disk and, thereby conditions itsexposed surface for receiving the coating lacquer and having it adherethereto without the objectionable formation of bubbles, which 4are'injurious to the coated disk. The roller likewise \functicns to gripthe blank disk land to hold it in position on the band and the diskmoves toward and under the feed hopper 12.

In order'to assure a perfectly clean surface on the disk, use isalsomade of the wipers |0|. The disk is forced under and in contact with thewipers, which function to clean the top surface ofthe disk of dust andother foreign substances, while at the same time wiping off surplusalcohol deposited'on the disk by roller |00.

As just noted. the roller grips andholds then feed hopper. A suicientamount of coating is too thin, or when the disk does not pass under thefeed hopper rapidly enough. The lacquer 86 hits the wetted surface ofthe disk, spreads instantaneously and runs forward of the feed hopper,extending forward of the front wall 91 to form an overflow mass |93 oflacquer, which builds up on the outside of the wall; and this tends toproduce stringiness or unevenness of the coating on the disk. It is forthis reason that the operator keeps the outside surface of the wallscraped clean of lacquer, as shown in Fig. 14.

Fig. 14 illustrates a proper method of coating disks. In this case, thelacquer tends to flow toward the front of the feed hopper, but onlyproceeds to a convenient point under the front wall 91, such asindicated by the numerals |94, |95, |95, etc. When this occurs, air isnot entrapped in the lacquer on the disk, and the lacquer does not ofcourse escape to the'front of the feed hopper. This happy result isobtained when the surface of the disk is properly wetted, and where theviscosity of the lacquer and the speed of travel of the disk under thehopper are properly correlated.

As will be clear from the drawings, the band is wider than the disks andthereby provides a substantial amount of uncovered band immediatelysurrounding each disk resting thereon. The band and disks are passedhorizontally at a uniformV and steady rate of speed, under the hopperwhile the disks are maintained at a predetermined and uniform distancefrom the bottom of the hopper of doctor blade. The c'oating lacquer issteadily discharged from the hopper as the disks pass thereunder. Asindicated above,

lthe viscosity and the amount of lacquer discharged from the hopper andthe speed of the band are such as to ll completely the gap between thedisks and the bottom of the hopper, so that a coating of substantiallythe thickness -of the gap is evenly spread across the top surface of,each disk as it leaves the hopper; while the portion of the bandimmediately surrounding each disk is given a coating |85 having athickness substantially equal to the combined thickness of the blankdisk and its coating. As the coated disk emerges from under the hopper,the coating flows suiciently to even out minute irregularities on thesurface.

The coated disk is appropriately separated from the coated portion ofthe band at its discharge end. For this purpose (see Figs. 6, '1, 8 9,and l1), the band is passed downwardly over roller |9 at its dischargeend while the forward portion of the coated but embedded disk Referringto Fig. 8, the first disk |8| in the series is shown with almost itsfirst half portion completely separated from the band,.thus lleaving aclean, uncoated almost semi-circular surface area |81 on the band wherethat part of the disk had formerly rested. The band coating |85continues to adhere to the lband and surrounds the semi-circular cleanportion |81 of the band.

When almost thefrsthalf of the coated disk passes over roller I9, andthe coating on almost the rst half of the disk has been sheared alongits perimeter, the high spots |20 of the cams |33 strike andfrictionally grip the ins-ide of the forward portion of the disk, and,because the petripheral portions of that part of the cams travel at agreater speed than the remaining portion of the cam, the coated disk isslightly lifted at its forward portion and the whole disk is suddenlypulled forward an appropriate distance |89 from the next disk |82 in theseries. When this occurs, the coating |84 on the disk is severed alongits perimeter from the coating |85 on the band. This severing actionextends around approximately the rear half of the disk |8|.

After the initial pull on the coateddisk by the high spots |20 of thecams |83, the forward portion of the coated disk reaches and isdeposited on roller |2| :thus providing in conjunction with the band anadequate support for the coated disk as it leaves the band. When thehigh spots carry the coated disk forward, a narrow Iopen space |89' iscreated at both sides of the disk between V its perimeter and thecoating |85 on the band,

continues and is projected at the discharge end in a horizontaldirection, away from the downwardly moving portion of the band; so thatthe coating |85 on that part of the band is automatically andprogressively severed or sheared from the coating 84 around the forwardperimeter portion of the disk. The shearing action between the coatingon the band and the coating along the perimeter of the disk starts atthe foremost part of the disk, where the band first parts with the disk,and proceeds rearwardly and outwardly along both sides of the disk. Thiscutting movement continues until the first half of the coated diskpasses over the roller I9.

The shearing action is more particularly illustrated in Figs., 6, 7 and8. The coating along the perimeter of the disk parts from the coating onthe band at point |86 directlyat the perimeter of the disk. It isimperative that this shearing action be sharp, uniform, and complete;and that it take place at the perimeter, and not appreciably inside oroutside of the perimeter of the disk. If the shearing action should takeplace inside the perimeter, coating lacquer would ofv course be removedfrom the face of the disk and thus render it useless.. If the shearingaction should take place outside of the perimeter of the disk, stringsor shreds of lacquer would dangle tions would make an even. and uniformcoating impossible; and, ifit had been 'previously coated, that side ofthe disk would of course be rendered useless.

. from the edge of the disk and tend to swing or where the disk and bandseparate above the roller I9." After the coated disk strikes roller I2 Ithe disk is propelled forward more rapidly than the speed of the band,which action widens the gap IBS-|89' as the disk continues to leave theband and thus reduces the chance of coating material seeping between thedisk and band.

The coated band, after the coated disks are removed, passes downwardlyover rollers I9 and 28, laterally under ther table across scraped blade2|, and between driving rollers 22 and 23 to takeup roll 24.Substantially all of the coating material is scraped from the band anddrops through funnel |4| into hopper |43; from which it is removed andre-used to coat disks.

'I'he operator should exercise care in removing the 'coated disks fromthe top of roller |2| and cams |83 so as not to impair their freshlycoated surfaces. 'I'his may be 4done by lifting each coated disk fromits underside and gently depositing it onto the raised contacts |14 atthe top of one of the Vertical supports |13 on the flat bar |12 on whichthey are conveyed through the drying tunnel. A supply of these bars iskept at hand,A and they are placed on the endless conveyor |44 one byone, as needed.

Referring to Fig. 1, the bar |12 is shown as supporting three coateddisks, for example, I8I, |82 and |83, on the endless conveyor I 44 inthe drying tunnel I2. If both coating machines I8 and are simultaneouslyoperated, the coated disks from each are transferred in this manner fordrying. One or the other coating machine may be used alone inconjunction with the drying tunnel.4 Whether one or two coating machinesare used, the speed of the coating machine or machines and the dryingtunnel are synchronized so that the drying tunnel may take care of thecoated disks as rapidly as they are transferred. By the time the coateddisks have traveled from the charging to the discharging end of thedrying tunnel, the coating thereon is fairly well.

i, lportion of each coated disk at the discharge end then returned tothe coating machine to have x their other side coated, in the samemanner as above described; after which they are subjected to a similardrying operation in the drying tunnel.

This application' is a continuation-impart of my copending applicationSerial No. 288,916, filed August 8, 1939.

I claim:

1. The method of manufacturing phonographio disks which comprisesplacing a succession of blank disks on a substantially imperforate bandwider than the disks so as to provide a substantial amount of uncoveredband immediately surrounding each disk resting thereon, passing the bandand disks in a generally horizontal direction at a substantiallyuniformand steady rate of speed under a lacquer-feeding hopper extendinglaterally across the disks and at least overa portion of the uncoveredband beyond both sides of `each disk, depositing a coating of thelacquer from,

the hopper onto the disks and surrounding portions of the band as thedisks passy under the hopper, moving the coated portion of the band withthe disks embedded in the coating material thereon a distance sufficientto clear the hopper, and then separating the coated disks from thecoated portion of the band by passing the band at its discharge end awayfrom the discs and projecting the forward portion of each coated disk atthe discharge end in the same general direction in which the disk hadbeen moving away from the band so that the coatingon that part of theband automatically and progressively is severed from the coating aroundthe forward perimeter portion of the disc, said severingaction betweenthe coating on the band and the coating along the perimeter of the diskstarting at the foremost part of the disk where the band first partswith the disk and proceeding rearwardly along both sides of the disk asthe band continues to part with the disk, pulling the disk forward at aspeeld somewhat greater than the speed of the traveling band after atleast the forward half of the disk has been separated from the band toseparate the rear perimeter portion of the coated disk from the coatingon the band immediately adjacent thereto, and thereafter completing theseparation of the disk from the traveling band.

A2. The method of manufacturing phonographic disks which comprisesplacing a succession of blank disks on a substantially imperforate bandwider than the disks so as to provide a substantial .amount of uncoveredband immediately surrounding each disk resting thereon, passing the bandand disks in a generally horizontal direction at a substantially uniformand steady rate of speed under a lacquer-feeding hopper extending laterially across the disks and at least over a portion of the uncovered bandbeyond vboth sides of each disc, depositing a coating of the lacquerfromthe hopper onto the disks and surrounging portions of the band asthe diskspass under the hopper, moving the coated portion of the bandwith` the in a generally horizontal direction away from the downwardlymoving portion of the band so that the coating on that part of the bandautomatically and progressively is severed from the coating around theforward perimeter portion of the disk, said severing action between thecoating on the band and the coating along the perimeter of the diskstarting at the foremost part c-f the disk where the band rst parts withthe disk and proceeding rearwardly along both sides of the disk as theband continues to part with the disk, frictionally gripping theundersurface of the projecting portion of the coated disk and pulling itforward at a speed somewhat greater than the speed of the traveling bandafter at least the forward half ofthe disk hase been separated from theband to separate the rear perimeter portion of the coated disk from thecoating on the band immediately adjacent thereto, and thereafter icompleting the separation of the disk from the band and disks in agenerally horizontal direction at a substantially uniform and steadyrate of speed under a lacquer-feeding hopper ex tending laterally acrossthe disks and at least over a portion of the uncovered band beyond bothsides of each disk, maintaining the disks at a predetermined and uniformdistance from the bottom of the hopper as they pass thereunder,depositing a coating of the lacquer from the hopper onto the disks andsurrounding portions of the band as the disks pass under the hopper, thespeed of travel of the disks beneath the hopper being so correlated tothe viscosity and the amount of lacquer discharged from the hopper thatthe gap between the disks and the bottom of the hopper is substantiallycompletely lled without fiowing out of the side of the hopper counter tothe direction of travel of the disks and without air being entrapped inthe lacquer applied to the disks, so that a coating of substantially thethickness of the gap is spread evenly across the top surface of eachdisk as it leaves the hopper while the portion of the band immediatelysurrounding each disk is coated `by a thickness substantially equal tothat of the blank disk and its coating, moving the coated portion of theband with the disks embedded in the coating material thereon a distancesuicient to clear the hopper, and then separating the coated disks fromthe coated portion of the band by passing the band at its discharge endaway from the discs and projecting the forward portion of each coateddisk at the discharge end in the same general direction in which thedisk had been moving away from the band so that the coating on that partof the band automatically and progressively is sev- Iered from thecoating around the forward perimeter portion of the disk, said severingaction between the coating on the band and the coating along theperimeter of the disk starting at the foremost part of the disk Wherethe band first parts with the disk and proceeding rearwardly along bothsides of the disk as the band continues to part with the disk, pullingthe disk forward at a speed somewhat greater than the speed of thetraveling band after at least the forward half of the disk has beenseparated from 4the band to separate the rear perimeter portion of thecoated disk from the coating on the band immediately adjacent thereto,and thereaftervcompleting the separation of the disk from the travelingband.

4. 'I'he method of manufacturing flexible phonographic disks whichcomprises placing a succession of blank disks on a substantiallyimperforate band wider than the disks so as to provide a substantialamount of uncovered band immediately surrounding each disk restingthereon, passing the band and disks in a generally horizontal directionat a substantially uniform and steady rate of speed under alacquer-feeding hopper extending laterally across the disks and at leastover a portion ofthe uncovered band beyond both sides of each disk,maintaining the band at a predetermined and uniform distance from thebottom of the hopper as it passes thereunder, 'depositing a coating ofthe lacquer from the hopper onto the disks and surrounding portions ofthe band as the disks pass under the hopper, maintaining in the4 hoppera substantially constant supply of lacquer sulcient in amount to provideenough hydraulic pres'- sure to ilatten slight bends in the disks and topress the disks tightly against the band as' they travel under thehopper, so that an even y coating substantially the thickness of thewidth of the gap between the bottoni of the hopper and the disks isspread across the top surface of each disk as it emerges from under thehopper, moving the coated portion of the band with `the disks embeddedin the coating material thereon a distance suilicient `to clear thehopper, and then separating the coated disks from the coated portion ofthe band.

5. The method of manufacturing flexible phonographic disks whichcomprises placing a succession of blank disks on a substantiallyiinperforate band wider than the disks so as to pr'ovide a substantialamount of uncovered band immediately surrounding each disk restingthereon, passing the band and disks in a generally horizontal directionat a substantially uniform and steady rate of speed under alacquer-feeding hopper extending laterally across the disks and at leastover a portion of the uncovered band' beyond both sides of each fdisk,maintaining the band at a predetermined and uniform distance from thebottom o! the hopper as it passes thereunder, depositing a coating ofthelacquer from the hopper onto the disks and surrounding portions of theband as the disks pass under the I hopper, maintaining in the hopper a`substantially constant supply of lacquer suiilcient in amount toprovide enough hydraulic pressure to flatten slight bends in the disksand to press the disks tightly against the band as they travel under thehopper, so that an even coating substantially the thickness of the widthof the gap between 'the bottom of the hopper and the disks is spreadacross the top surface of each disk as it emerges from under the hopper,moving the coated portion of the band with the disks em-l bedded in thecoating material thereon a distance suihcient to clear the hopper, andthen seprating the coated disks from the coated portion of the band bypassing the ,band at its discharge end away from the disks and projectsing the forward portion of `each coated disk at the discharge end in thesame general direction in which the disk had been moving away from theband so that the coating onj that part of the band automatically andprogressively is severed from the coating around the Vforward perimeterportion of the diskgsaid severing action between the coating on the bandand the coating along the perimeter of the disk' starting at theforemost part oi' the disk where the band first parts with the disk andproceeding rearwardly along both sides or the disk as the band continuesto part with the disk,l pulling the disk forward at a speed somewhatgreater than the .speed of the traveling band after at least the

